Google Now Launcher, Play Store running on Nokia X

Last night, we shared with you the work that was being done to get the Nokia app store from the new Nokia X running on regular old Google-centric Androids handsets. We knew it wasn’t any technological milestone or anything nearly so important, but it was still a neat thing to see, especially due to all the effort Nokia’s made to distance its X family from Google. Tonight we turn that on its head, as we see a Nokia X handset configured to run Google apps, including the new Google Now Launcher.

And again, it’s not that anyone doubted such a thing would be possible, or even extraordinarily difficult to pull off; Android’s crazy flexible, and it was just a matter of time, along with some access to the hardware. But that’s just where we find ourselves tonight, checking out these Google apps running on the X’s petite four-inch display.

Sideloading has always been a bit of an enthusiast pursuit, but considering Nokia’s big plans for the X, we wonder if we might see a new spate of interest in it following the phone’s availability, or if users will find themselves so satisfied with Nokia’s own efforts that the thought wouldn’t even occur to them.

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Stephen has been writing about electronics since 2008, which only serves to frustrate him that he waited so long to combine his love of gadgets and his degree in writing. In his spare time, he collects console and arcade game hardware, is a motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoys trapping blue crabs. Stephen's first mobile device was a 624 MHz Dell Axim X30, which he's convinced is still a viable platform. Stephen longs for a market where phones are sold independently of service, and bandwidth is cheap and plentiful; he's not holding his breath. In the meantime, he devours smartphone news and tries to sort out the juicy bits Read more about Stephen Schenck!